Everyone inside Firhill expected ref John Beaton to point to the spot but he waved play on to the fury of the Thistle fans in the Jackie Husband Stand who had a bird’s eye view of the incident.

And to rub salt into their wounds Saints broke away and scored a second to kill the game a few minutes later after Stephen O’Donnell had been sent off for two yellow cards.

Doolan said: “That’s the way our luck seems to be. If that was in our box it would have been a stonewall penalty.

“To make it worse after that decision they go up the park and get a second. It is hard to take.

“The penalty decision was the big turning point. It is frustrating because we played well and created chances but they picked us off on the break. Possession does not give us points and we need to start being a bit more clinical.”

McLean delivered the corner and Steven Thompson lost his marker to send a glancing header into the far corner of the net.

Thistle should have been back on level terms before the interval but Marian Kello thwarted Doolan’s effort and after two amazing fresh-air swipes by Thistle players, Gabriel Piccolo sent a shot high and wide into the stand when he should have hit the target.

Higginbotham proved a handful down the left and weaved past several challenges in the box before firing straight at Kello.

The Thistle winger was involved in the game’s controversial moment in the 65th minute.

He fired in a shot that was goalbound but struck Goodwin 10 yards away and while it seemed an obvious penalty ref Beaton ruled against it.

Things went from bad to worse for Thistle when O’Donnell was red carded in the 71st minute for a foul on John McGinn. Sixty seconds later Saints killed the game when Paul McGowan sent Connor Newton clear and he drilled a low shot through keeper Fox’s legs.

Deep into injury time sub Danny Grainger sent over a cross from the left and Thompson controlled the ball before thumping a volley past Fox.

Thistle boss Alan Archibald moaned: “The penalty decision was the turning point. You could tell by the roar of the crowd it was a penalty.

“Goodwin has moved his arm to the side and blocked the ball. If that is not a penalty I don’t know what is.

“The fourth official told me he had not moved his arm but he we will be embarrassed if that is what he thought when he sees it again.

“He moved his arm to the side but we do not get the decisions that changes games.

“It could have been 1-1 and then we have got the momentum to go and get the win.”